Peterson earns second stint in Majors, starts at 2B

SAN DIEGO -- Infielder Jace Peterson was recalled from Triple-A El Paso for the second time this year before Wednesday's game against the Pirates.

Peterson batted eighth and started at second base Wednesday, giving the struggling Jedd Gyorko his second day off in five days.

Peterson has excelled at El Paso, hitting .321/.418/.485 with three home runs and 26 RBIs.

"I got some ABs and played every day, it was good," Peterson said. "[El Paso] is a great place to play, [but] I'm excited to be back."

Peterson was drafted in the first round (58th overall) of the 2011 Draft out of McNeese State, and has shown excellent plate discipline during his time in the Minors, drawing 193 walks compared with 204 strikeouts.

"Pitchers know who the good hitters are. Even in Triple-A, they'll pitch him accordingly," Black said. "Good hitters walk because pitchers don't give them anything to hit and they lay off borderline pitches."

Peterson spent a couple weeks with the Padres earlier this season, batting .174 with no walks and six strikeouts in 23 at-bats. But instead of sending him back to Double-A, the Padres challenged him by sending him to El Paso.

Despite leading the Padres in RBIs (24), Gyorko has the lowest batting average in the Majors among qualified hitters (.162).

"I think, in general, there are times when younger players are struggling, that is a situation that you look at whether that will help," Black said. "In some situations with players, there's a mental component. With Jedd I think it'd be more just about performance and his swing, which we're [trying to fix] now."

Pitcher Jesse Hahn, who made his big league debut Tuesday and took the loss to the Pirates, was sent back down to Double-A to clear a roster spot for Peterson.